While I’m away, I’m once again dipping into our files of historical political photos.

In 1994, John Kitzhaber met the press one day after winning his first race for governor.

In the background, partially obscured by an American flag, is Tom Imeson, a utility executive, former chief of staff to Gov. Neil Goldschmidt and former aide to Sen. Mark O. Hatfield, R-Ore., who would lead the transition effort.

Imeson is back in a similar role this year as Kitzhaber prepares to enter a third term as governor.

In 1994, Kitzhaber's first post-election press conference was a pretty humdrum affair, set in a corner of a Portland Hilton ballroom (and there I am in the photo, looking much younger because I was). This year, his campaign staged a showy victory celebration in Portland's Tanner Springs Park. Of course, in 1994 he got to declare victory on election night; this year he had to wait two days to do it because the race was so close.